Volunteers with years of service ranging from a year to 30-plus were honored at Momiji Health Care Society’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Event on Apr. 22.
TORONTO — Volunteering has a long, rich history. It can be traced back to medieval times in Britain with the establishment of volunteer-operated hospitals.
Organized volunteering emerged in the 19th century with the founding of the Red Cross and YMCA. The word ‘volunteer’ was originally associated with religious or military service, but it has now evolved to service and engagement within the community.
In Canada, National Volunteer Week (NVW) was first celebrated in 1943 to honor the contributions made by women on the home front during the Second World War. NVW is celebrated annually for a week in April; this year, it was observed from Apr. 16 to 22. Every NVW has a unique theme; this year’s NVW theme is ‘Volunteering Weaves Us Together.’ This theme celebrates how volunteers’ dedication strengthens the fabric of our community by sharing their time, skills, and energy in creating a strong, interconnected, and vibrant community.
Volunteering is an integral part of Canadian culture. Children are encouraged to do so from an early age, and high school students in Ontario must complete 40 mandatory volunteer hours before graduation.
Statistics Canada reported on the rate and nature of informal volunteering in Canada, finding that a combined total of 24 million Canadians, 15 years and older, volunteered an average of 206 hours in 2018. This is encouraging to say the least.
Volunteers strengthen our communities, and in times of crisis, they are often on the frontline of the response, supporting others in need. While the demand for volunteers has grown over the years, unfortunately, the need hasn’t been met. In Canada, the pandemic has impacted volunteerism drastically, and many charities are still operating with low volunteer engagement. Many charities have had to shut down operations and programs due to a shortage of volunteers.
When volunteering has proven to be so successful, this downturn is very unfortunate. There are so many ways to become involved in volunteering; whether it be donating money, time, or skills, you can make a positive impact in your local community.
Due to pandemic restrictions, a virtual volunteer awards ceremony was held by the Volunteer Recognition Unit of the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism to honour Momiji’s volunteers in November 2020.

Volunteers with years of service ranging from a year to 30-plus were honored at Momiji Health Care Society’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Event on Apr. 22. Photo credit: Dr. Ailin Oishi-Stamatiou.
From 2020 to 2023, 41 Momiji volunteers were recipients of the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards. After an absence of three years, we were finally able to gather in person once again. Volunteers with years of service ranging from a year to 30-plus were honoured at Momiji Health Care Society’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Event on Apr. 22. These volunteers included those working in the areas of fundraising, community program/outreach, leadership on the board of directors, and at Momiji seniors residence/senior active living centre’s various programs.
Over 150 volunteers from the GTA and Hamilton attended the event, engaged with live musical entertainment, a formal ceremony of recognition, and a buffet-style luncheon. Volunteers had the chance to mingle with old friends and make new connections, all tied together by a love of volunteering.
Three volunteers were specially recognized and honoured in the riding of John McKay, MP for Scarborough–Guildwood. Long-time Momiji tenant Susan Hidaka was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award in 2022 for her contributions to Momiji and the wider community over her lifetime. Joan McIlroy (2021) and Takako Morosawa (2022) were recipients of the Community Volunteer Service Award. This award recognizes volunteers who go the extra mile, take initiative, and serve as positive role models in the Scarborough-Guildwood community.

Volunteers with years of service ranging from a year to 30-plus were honored at Momiji Health Care Society’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Event on Apr. 22. Photo credit: Dr. Ailin Oishi-Stamatiou.
I was honoured to meet a very special senior at the event that has inspired me deeply, Kimiko (Rose) Aihoshi. She told me her last name loosely translates as “togetherness-constellation.” The motto she lives by is “Reach high and always aim for the stars.” She is 100 years old and has volunteered at Momiji for the past 30-plus years, since moving in on Dec. 7, 1992.
She was instrumental in setting up the “radio-taiso” program, which she helped to run for 26 years. She was inspired to volunteer by a Japanese TV actress who said, “I’m going to do my thank yous while I am alive.” Her volunteering spirit has also been carried on by her children. Her daughter Gail is a long-serving Momiji board member.
We honour all of our volunteers and thank them for their hard work, dedication, and inspirational nature for all of us. Momiji was established in 1978 as a not-for-profit, charitable organization for the Issei. It first opened its doors in downtown Toronto serving as a Drop-In centre before relocating to the current Scarborough location in 1992.
Since Momiji was founded by volunteers, they have been pivotal to its success and paramount in helping run its many programs. There are many volunteer opportunities at Momiji; please consider joining. You will be able to make a real difference in our seniors’ lives, make new connections, and learn about Japanese Canadian history and culture.
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